2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Area Studies (Income $75-$110k) in the Plains States Region

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k” ranking.

In 2019-2020, 6,820 people earned their degree in area studies, making the major the 106th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, area studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $33,734 and had an average of $23,024 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 335 area studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $30,400 and $23,969 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 24 area studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $53,438 and $39,783 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k” ranking, we looked at 4 colleges that offer a degree in area studies. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality area studies programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the area studies program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region master’s degree area studies students whose families make $75-$110k.

Top 4 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Area Studies (Income $75-$110k) in the Plains States Region

#1

Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri

#1 in overall quality

$56,562 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

Out of the 4 schools in the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k that were part of this year’s ranking, Washington University in St Louis landed the #1 spot on the list. WUSTL is located in Saint Louis, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 masters’s area studies degrees to qualified students.

WUSTL did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Washington University in St Louis are $56,562, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Area Studies at Washington University in St Louis

#2

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa

$27,613 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Iowa. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k. Iowa City, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s area studies degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

Iowa not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #0 on our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Iowa are $27,613, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Iowa Area Studies Report

#3

Saint Louis University

Saint Louis, Missouri

#3 in overall quality

$22,074 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Saint Louis University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k. Saint Louis University is located in Saint Louis, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 masters’s area studies degrees to qualified students.

SLU also made our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #3. Average graduate tuition and fees at Saint Louis University are $22,074, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full SLU Area Studies Report

#4

University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas

#2 in overall quality

$25,007 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Kansas. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. KU is a large school located in Lawrence, Kansas that handed out 10 masters’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

KU also took the #2 spot in our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at KU are $25,007.

Read more about Area Studies at University of Kansas

• Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Area Studies (Income $75-$110k)

Notes and References

References

• The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
• Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
• Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

• *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
• Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

• Credit for the banner image above goes to Karl Udo Gerth.

Featured Political and Social Sciences Schools

Request Info

Southern New Hampshire University You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs ... Learn More >